Contents

Route description

Route 1, like other early-region routes, is lined with trees, and features low-level Pokémon in its long grass. The player first ventures through Route 1 with his or her friends Cheren and Bianca. The western area of the route leading to Route 17 is blocked off by the sea, meaning the player must first acquire Surf to gain access to this part. Due to this the Pokémon and Trainers over in the western area are of a higher level than those to the east.

Seasonal changes on Route 1 are completely aesthetic, affecting the color palette of the grass, trees, and flowers. There are no areas which can only be accessed in certain seasons, like in Icirrus City.

Trainer Tips

Trainer TipsMake an effort to talk to all the people you meet during your journey! Chances are they will have something useful to tell you.

In the anime

Route 1 in the anime

The Spa Resort on Route 1

Route 1 made its first appearance in Enter Iris and Axew!. In its anime incarnation, it is a forest route with a small lake; mountains surround the route. There is a nearby Pokémon Center and Poké Mart. As he traveled through the route, Ash met Iris and her Axew picking fruit. He tried to catch one of the Deerling native to the area, but failed. In a nearby cave, Jessie, James and Meowth received orders from Giovanni and encountered a flock of Woobat, one of which Jessie caught offscreen. The next day Ash encountered a flock of Pidove; the flock flew away except for one, which Ash caught.

In A Sandile Gusher of Change! there was shown to be a nearby spa resort. This resort is famous for its sand bath, but had to close down because of a group of Sandile was disturbing the customers. The route also hosted a mountainous section which produced geysers. These trapped the Pokémon living around the area, but, with the help of the Sandile, the Pokémon were saved. The geysers flooded the valley and the spa resort reopened, now as a hot spring.

Trivia

However, high-leveled wild Pokémon only appear on this route in dark grass, water, and during swarms in Black and White, none of which can be accessed early in the game. If these are not taken into consideration, Kanto Route 1's Pidgey in Yellow are the highest-leveled wild Pokémon on any first route of a main series game at level 7.

In addition, this is the only route where Feebas can be caught other than by fishing in specific water tiles.